osgood



(No Model.)

2 Sheets-@heet 1. R. R. OSGOOD.

SPUD FIXTURE.

Patented Mar.21,1882.

2 Sheets-Sheet Z.

R. R. OS'GOOD.

Model.)

SPUD FIXTURE.

Patented Mar. 21,1882.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RALPH R. OSGOOD, OF TROY, ASSIGNOR TO OSGOOD St MACNAUGHTON, OF

. ALBANY, NEW YORK.

spun-FIXTURE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 255,187, dated March 21, 1882.

Application filed December 12, 1881. (No model.)

To alt whom it may concern Be it Aknown that I, RALPH R. OsGooD, of Troy, county of Rensselaer, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spud-Fixtures, of which the following is a full, clear, and ezact description, reference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters ot' reference marked thereon.

My invention has relation to fixtures or appliances for guiding, clamping, hoisting, and otherwise controlling the movements of spudposts, especially such as lare used upon dredging-machines; but the improvements are also applicable to spuds used upon other vessels or machines, as upon pile-drivers, excavators, Src., as will be readily understood.

,Amon g the principal objects of my invention are the construction of a strong and durable well-hole for containing the spud, the walls of the well being peculiarly braced and secured upon the surrQunding'timberS, so as to with'y stand the various strains to good advantage, the provision ot` top and bottom castings (for `the margins ot' the well) bearing friction-rollers to facilitate movement of the spud; the application to the spud of a simple, strong, and safe friction-clamp for holdingthe spud in any desired position; and the production and application ofa con venient hoisting-clam p, through the medium of which the spud may be elevated or lowered from one location to another, using machine-power for the purpose.

To accomplish these several objects and to render the appliances solid,secure, convenir nt, and easy to adjust, as well as to insure security and ease of movement in the Spud-post, my improvements involve certain novel and useful peculiarities of construction, relative arrangements o'r combinations ot' parts, and principles of operation, all ot' which will be herein first fullydescribed, and then pointed out in the claims.

To illustrate the character and scope of my invention, I have chosen a spud-post and tittings or attachments particularly designed for use upon ordinary dredging machines. This illustration, in connection with the followingexplanation, is sufficient to enable others skilled in the art to which my improvements relate to practice my invention, and to adapt the improvements for use upon any desired class Vof machines.

In the accompanyingdrawings, formingpart of this specification, Figure ll is a side elevation of the spud well or casing, showing the mountings or fittings at top and bottom, the location ot' the spud therein, and afragment of the hoisting-gearing above, the view being taken upon a plane cutting some of the adjacent 6o timbers, which are shown in section. Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of the casting which forms the cap of the Spud-well, the spud being shown in section. Fig. 3 is a plan of the initier side 0f the casting which forms the lower margin 65 ot' the Spud-well, the spud being shown in section. Fig.4is a partial section and elevation upon a vertical plane through one side of the cap-piece or casting, and Fig. 5 is a similar view of a portion ot' the lower casting.' Fig. 6 7o is a side elevation of so much of my improved appliance as is located above the deck ofthe vessel, theV vview being taken upon a plane at right angles to that of Fig. l.' Fig. 7 is an elevation and partial section, showing the construction and arrangement ot` the rear block ot' the spudclutching mechanism; and Fig; 8 is a similar view of thel'ront or main block ofthe same, to which the clutching-lever is applied. Figs. 9 and 10 are cross-sections through the 80 center ot' devices shown in Figs. 7. and S, respectively.Y F-ig. l1 is a vertical section, and Fig. 12 a top or plan view, ot' the improved tackle-block employed for hoisting the spud.

In all these figures like letters ot' reference', 85 wherever they occur, indicate corresponding parts.

The spud well or casing passes entirely through the vesse l, ifs side walls being made of any desired number of timbers, as indi-` 9o cated `at A. These timbers are otvsuitable strength and thickness, and together they form .Y a water-tight casing to prevent admission of Water to -the hold of the vessel. They are framed with and secured by the-timbers of the vessel, as circumstances will permit-as, for instance, between the keelson-timbers and cross-pieces B B and the deck-timbers B B.

C represents the deck, and C the bottom sheathing.

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The spud D, as usual, is a square or rectangular piece of timber of sufficient length and ot' size to correspond with the strains whichit may be required to withstand. Itmay beshod at bottom with asuitable casting, as indicated at F, though this is frequently omitted. rlhe plate E ot' the bottom casting extends over the lower ends of the well-timbers A, and is provided with an interior collar and with eX- terior trunnions, which support the axles ot' the friction-rollers G G. As indicated,these axles are keyed in place, andthe spud D bears against the rollers on its tour sides. The plate E is secured in place by use of bolts a a', which enter perforations in the walls A, and arehcld by suitable nuts, which maybe reached from the interior ot the vessel. Other means of securing the plate E in place maybe adopted, if desired, the object beingto make it perfectly rm upon its seat. To facilitate the location of the rods a', the perforations provided for them in plate E are somewhat elongated, as shown in Fig. 3.

At E is thecap or top casting. mounted upon tbeupperendsotthccasingA. F1ietiourollers G Gare aXled upon this cap same as upon the lower plate; but,instead of having an interior collar, the cap E is provided with a depending ilange made toinclosethc upper ends of' timbers A all around. The tie-rods a serve to hold the cap firmly in place. These are preferably inclined, as shown, the better to brace the well and connect it iirmly with the timbers of the vessel; but, as in respect to the bottom plate, other means of holding it in place or bracing it may be devised. With the cap-piece and bottom piece in place as above indicated, the spud, as it moves up or down iu its well, bears always against friction-rollers, which insure an easy motion and prevent shoekto the vessel when a strain is brought upon the spud. Any number of these spuds are to be cmployed about the vessel, as the case may re.- qmre.

To clutch the spud at any point, either for holding it in an elevated position above the bottom or when resting on the bottom to prevent the rocking of the vessel, (which might occur' if the spud be left free to move within its casing,) I employ a frictionclutch composed of two main parts, H and l-one ou one side of the spurl and the other opposite to it--the two being made to clamp and hohl the spud by use ot' an eccentric, substantially as indicated in Figs. 1, 6, 8, and 10. The back plate of the clutch has an axle, c, Fig. 7, supported above and connected with the cap-piece by two links, L L. The bearing-face b of this back plate is of course plain and smooth, and it is made strong enough for the purposes intended by casting it with ribs, leaving pockets between them, as indicated, orin any other manner suitable for the purpose. rlhe opposite plate is provided with an eccentric roller, d, heldin place by removable cap-squares ff, and provided with an axle, c, same as the back plate, I. The axle of the front plate is held in links L L', and both axles are connected by eye-bars K, one on each side of the spud. The eccentric d is provided with a socket, e, for receiving a hand-lever, O. By bearing down on hand-lever O it is plain that the two plates of the clutch must be brought into contact with the spud, the eccentric d crowding the face.

plate b ot' part H and drawing that of part I, through the medium ot eye-bars K, against the sides of the spud. By elevating lever O the strain upon the bars K is relieved, and the links L L' admit of the two parts of the clutch im'- medatel y assuming positions wherein they will not interfere with the free movements ot' the spud. The hoisting-clamp, also composed of two main parts oppositely disposed upon the spurl, is shown as located above the holdingclutch mechanism. One part, J, has aat bearingface, and is formed much the same as the clutch-plate l, Fig. 9, having an axle upon which are mounted the eyebolts K K. The other section, Q, is made in the form ot' a pulley-block, the part b, for bearing against the spud, being mounted upon au axle, e, a little below the center of the bearing-surface, which axle is joined with that ot' part J by the links or eyebolts K. At the rear of b are the arms which support the pulleys g, the whole heilig made rm and substantial. One, two, or any number of pulleys may be employed. A chain or rope or cable being wound around these pulleys and strained so as to elevate the part Q, it is plain that thespud will be clamped between J 'and Q and must rise with them. .'lhe spud being held fast by the holding-clutch or otherwise, it' the hoisting chain or rope be slacked, the rear end of blockrQ will drop sui'iiciently to release the spud. This union ot' the pulley and clamp in one block is a convenient and cheap method ofconstruction, and contributes to the durability ofthe whole, as well as ease of management.

The hoisting chains or cables are intended to be connected in any desired manner and to be moved by power upon the vessel. They may be led through the pulley-block P, supported upon any convenient standard, as N M, directly over Q; but this standard is not an cssential feature, since they may be led from any other convenient point.

The construction enables me to hoist and lower the spud by power in a convenient and easy way-a decided advantage over the hand appliances heretofore commonly used for the purpose. The clamping and releasing of the spudis automatic, and the hoisting attachments in no way interfere with the other appliances.

The spud is shown as broken at top and bottom, Figs. l and 6, indicating that it may be ot' any desired length, and the broken upright N indicates a piece of any suitable height.

When constructed and arrangedfor operation substantially in accordance with the foregoing explanations, the appliances are in all respects adapted for accomplishing the purposes or objects of the invention as previously ,IOS

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stated. By their use I am enabled to easily and quickly control themovements of the spud and to hold the same rmly at any place. The upper and lower sets of friction-rollers, being located at a considerable distance from each other, afford a firm bearing against the spud, which is thus enabled to hold the boat or machine to good advantage. It is preferred to locate the spurl-wells within the sides of the vessel or machine; but obviously they might be located upon the outside, following the general principles of construction above alluded to.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new herein, and desire to sccure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination with the spudwell constructed substantially as described, the bottom casting secured thereon and carrying the friction-rollers for bearing against the sides of the Spud-post, substantially as and ibrthepurposes set forth.

2. In combination with the Spud-well constructed substantially as described, the top casting or cap mounted thereon and carrying the friction-rollers for bearin g against the sides of the Spud-post, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In combination with the removable flanged cap secured upon the Spud-well timbers and carrying the friction-rollers, the two-part clutch mechanism mounted upon said cap, and constructed and arranged to operate in connection with the spud,substantially as shown and described.

4. In combination with the spud-well,.the

6. The combination of the cap-piece for the i spurl-well, flanged as explained, the frictionrollers journaled thereon, the two-part frictionclutch mechanism, the links uniting the clutch with the cap-piece, and thc eyebolts connecting two parts of the clutch, substantially as shown and described'.

7. The Spud-well timbers projecting labove the deck and secured at top by a cap having a depending ange, which cap carries the friction-rollers and the holding-clutch mechanism, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

8. In combination with a Spud-post, an automatic hoisting clamp composed of two parts, one part carrying one or more pulleys for the application ot' the hoisting chain or cable, and

both parts united by suitable links or side bars, 6o

substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that Iclaim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

RALPH-R. OSGOOD.

Witnesses:,

WORTH OsGooD, F. W. HANAFORD. 

